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Local Gig List: March 11-17

by Andrea Swensson

March 11, 2013

 

The music portion of SXSW kicks off tomorrow, and there are lots of Minnesotans heading down to Austin, Texas to partake in this year's festivities. But that doesn't mean that those of us who aren't going are completely out of luck. In fact, there are still plenty of us who will be in town, and there are plenty of shows going on right here in the Twin Cities.

If you're staying in town this week, read on for our suggestions on how to make your own stay-at-home music festival. Maybe we should make our own laminates? At the very least, I hope someone's been working on our own MN-centric version of the Doritos vending machine stage.

As always, you can find even more suggestions on the Current's event calendar.

 

Monday, March 11

Mux Mool

7th St. Entry, Minneapolis

8 p.m., $5, 18+

Minnesota-born, Brooklyn-based electronic musician and producer Brian Lindgren, known on stage as Mux Mool, will return home tonight to play a show with like-minded Twin Cities artists Connie Hawkins, Prhym8, Ghostband, and graphic designer Visionquest.

Brandon Wozniak, Bryan Nichols, Erik Fratzke, and JT Bates

Icehouse, Minneapolis

9:30 p.m., $5, 21+

Four of the Twin Cities most well-respected improvisational artists will form a new quartet for two sets as part of JT Bates' Monday night jazz series at Icehouse.

Tuesday, March 12

Chihuahua City

The Belmore/New Skyway Lounge, Minneapolis

9 p.m., free, 21+

This new monthly event combines the talents of dVRG (keyboards, bassoon), Jeremy Ylvisaker (guitar), Nelson Devereaux (saxophones), Greg Schutte (drums) and Jon Davis (bass, bass clarinet) for an evening of improvisational exploration. This month's event will feature special guest JT Bates.

Danny O'Brien and Friends

Aster Cafe, Minneapolis

9 p.m., $5, all ages

The Farewell Circuit's Danny O'Brien will host a songwriter showcase at the Aster every Tuesday this month. For his second installment, he'll invite Sarah Krueger, Al Church and Jon Reine to play mini-sets before opening things up for a 45-minute set of collaborative cover songs.

Wednesday, March 13

Molly Maher and Erik Koskinen

Aster Cafe, Minneapolis

9 p.m., $4, all ages

Read about multi-talented songwriter, performer, and guitar tech Molly Maher in our profile here, and catch her at this weekly gig with backing band Her Disbelievers and Erik Koskinen, who will perform his own set of songs.

Thursday, March 14

Fathom Lane, Zoo Animal and the Awful Truth

Live Letters Loft, Minneapolis

7  p.m., $10, all ages

This unique living room/loft concert series will welcome Michael Ferrier's new songwriting vehicle Fathom Lane, Holly Newsom of Zoo Animal, and Utah's the Awful Truth. Tickets and info here.

Matt Wilson and John Munson

Aster Cafe, Minneapolis

9 p.m., $10, all ages

The former Trip Shakespeare bandmates and current Twilight Hours collaborators Matt Wilson and John Munson will converge for an intimate evening at the Aster.

Reina del Cid

Turf Club, St. Paul

9 p.m., $6, 21+

In what's being billed as an "Electric Folk Extravaganza," folk-rock group Reina del Cid will headline a night that also features roots quartet William Within and Disaster Bird.

Friday, March 15

The Slamming Doors

Cabooze, Minneapolis

8 p.m., $5, 18+

I had a chance to catch this Iron Range band while up north profiling Sparta Sound's Rich Mattson, and was impressed by how polished and well-composed their roots-rock songs were. They'll play at the Cabooze as part of a competition to win a slot at the Summer Camp Festival in Illinois this May. The Slamming Doors will go head to head with Soap, Kind Country, and the Regulars.

The Lower 48

7th St. Entry, Minneapolis

8 p.m., $8, 18+

This trio of Minneapolis expats are now based in Portland, and will be back in town with a new '60s pop single, "Setting Sun," in tow. Expect to hear much more from the Lower 48 in the year to come. With openers City on the Make and Cjell Cruze (whom I profiled last summer here).

Black Blondie

Triple Rock Social Club, Minneapolis

9 p.m., $8, 18+

R&B/pop quartet Black Blondie will re-emerge with a set of new songs at this headlining gig, with openers Meta, Speed's the Name, and host and DJ Toki Wright.

Debbie Duncan

Artists' Quarter, St. Paul

9 p.m., $10

As one of Minnesota's premier jazz vocalists, Debbie Duncan has no trouble commanding a room with her versatile, soulful style. She'll hold down two back-to-back nights at the AQ this weekend.

Saturday, March 16

Hannah von der Hoff

Dakota Jazz Club, Minneapolis

11 p.m., $5

Formerly known as the lead singer of Sexcat, powerhouse vocalist Hannah von der Hoff will break out on her own with this solo performance, which is part of the Dakota's late-night series.

Ike Reilly's Saturday Night Special

Turf Club, St. Paul

8 p.m., $15, 21+

An honorary local, Libertyville, Illinois's Ike Reilly has long maintained a loyal and rabid fanbase here in the Twin Cities. This Turf Club show is part of a series of Saturday-night events he'll host this spring at different local venues; for this gig, he'll be joined by Terry Walsh (of the Belfast Cowboys) and his St. Dominic's Trio.

Debbie Duncan

Artists' Quarter, St. Paul

9 p.m., $10

As one of Minnesota's premier jazz vocalists, Debbie Duncan has no trouble commanding a room with her versatile, soulful style. She'll hold down two back-to-back nights at the AQ this weekend.

Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment
This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.